New Heritage Act

The physical heritage of Alice Springs may be a little more secure with new legislation introduced in parliament this week. The new Heritage Act is long overdue, says a local member of the National Trust.

A review of the Territory's Heritage Conservation Act was well overdue, says Loraine Braham, member of the Alice Springs branch of the National Trust.

"[The Heritage Conservation Act] was first introduced in 1999, [and] promised in 2001 to be reviewed...", she says.

"Now, ten years later, it's finally passed!"

Ms Braham participated in the review process which resulted in a Bill being passed in parliament this week, replacing the old legislation with a new Heritage Act.

Heritage Minister Karl Hampton saying the new Act is a step in the right direction.

"I believe this legislation represents a real step forward in terms of improving the framework within which the Territory government - working with the community - manages the unique and diverse heritage of the Territory," he says.

Among the changes are 'increased penalties and improved provision for on-the-ground enforcement', Aboriginal representation on an expanded Heritage Council and interim protection of sites nominated for heritage listing.

Heritage Minister Karl Hampton says;

"What we passed yesterday was historic legislation."

"The existing legislation is 20 years old and we know that Hotel Darwin was a real example of why we needed to modernise this legislation."

Ms Braham agrees that the need to modernise the act was crucial but says it's disappointing that the final say on heritage decisions is still down to the Minister.

"I would have liked the advisory council to, when they make decisions, that they were binding, whereas any decisions that they make they still have to go to the Minister for either approval [or] assent."

However Ms Braham says that the provisions for greater community involvement will hopefully mean greater protection for relevant sites.

"It's a bit like the SOS on Hartley St School many years ago," she says.

"The community got behind that and I think that's what would happen if we tried to destroy anything now."